Campaigners call for mobile mast halt

RESIDENTS who fear mobile phone transmitter radiation could be playing a part in the shocking cancer rate in Runcorn and Widnes are to demand a three-year halt to new antennae until scientific research can prove the masts are safe.

RESIDENTS who fear mobile phone transmitter radiation could be playing a part in the shocking cancer rate in Runcorn and Widnes are to demand a three-year halt to new antennae until scientific research can prove the masts are safe.

Campaigners from areas of Widnes recently affected by proposed telecoms development are to call on their counterparts in Runcorn to back their outright rejection of draft policy guidance on mobile phone mast siting which the council has thrown open to public comment.

The campaigners are now stepping up a major leaflet drop and are planning to target a further 2,000 homes in the borough ­ so far they have canvassed more than 1,000 in Widnes, resulting in 238 residents who are determined to back the fight. Organisers are now hoping for similar results in Runcorn and want to hear from anti-mast protest groups in the area.

At the heart of the campaign is a demand for the Government to treat Halton as a 'special case' with regard to mast siting, as the reasons behind the borough's unenviable reputation as the UK's cancer blackspot still remains an open question.

The campaigners point to the fact the borough has the highest rate of all forms of cancer, the highest rate of infant deaths and the country's second worst life expectancy as sufficient reason for the adoption of a 'precautionary approach' to mast planning applications.

They are demanding a three-year moratorium on future developments until scientists can offer an absolute assurance that their emissions are harmless.

Campaigner Phil Maclean said: 'The council has drafted a proposed communications strategy for Halton and residents have been invited to comment on it.

'We totally reject the telecommunications strategy for Halton and request that the council applies to the secretary of state to make Halton a special case and ask that no more masts be built here for at least the next three years until further research is available.

'To allow further mast developments would be unacceptable as it could possibly be an aggravating circumstance [to mortality rates]. There are wide gaps in the research and too many sick people in Halton to take any chances.'

He added: 'If we can get, say, 500 people objecting then I think the council will take notice.'